In Memoriam
Dr. Roger Henderson Hadley
Dr. Roger Henderson Hadley, professor emeritus at Oklahoma Baptist University, passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2024. He was born in Upland, California, August 9, 1946, to Euler Henderson Hadley and Betty Roden Hadley. Roger spent his early childhood in Baldwin Park, California, before moving to Joplin, Missouri, where he graduated high school in 1964. In 1968 he graduated from what was then Southeastern State College in Durant, OK, where he excelled as a member of the debate team. His success in debate led to his acceptance into law school at the University of Oklahoma. However, prior to entering law school he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
After returning from his tour, he married his college sweetheart, Wanda Mae Burnett, of McAlester, OK, on August 2, 1970. The young couple moved to Norman, OK, where Hadley completed a master’s degree and then his Ph.D. in mass communication. Following graduation, Dr. Hadley taught at Oklahoma City Community College, The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri, and Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, before he and his family moved to Shawnee where he joined the faculty at Oklahoma Baptist University in 1985.
It was at OBU that Dr. Hadley developed and refined the Telecommunications Department, including the production of an award-winning local cable news broadcast. His tireless commitment to education garnered him multiple accolades. He was awarded the Fred Tewell Outstanding Communication Educator Award from the Oklahoma Speech Theatre Communication Association, OBU’s Distinguished Teacher Award, and he also co-founded the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association. But he was most proud of his students and their achievements, watching many of them build flourishing careers as TV and radio news personalities. After 27 years at OBU, Dr. Hadley retired in 2012. Upon his retirement, numerous former students who were positively impacted by his leadership came together to create the Dr. Roger H. Hadley Endowment for Study in Broadcasting and Digital Media at Oklahoma Baptist University to continue his educational impact in perpetuity.
Dr. Hadley was preceded in death by his parents, and by his stepmother, June Hadley. He is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; his son, Cameron, and daughter-in-law, Cindy Hadley, and their two children, Hannah and Henry, all of Broken Arrow; his daughter, Lindsay, and her husband, Brandon Dyer, and their four children, Noah, Luke, Hadley, and Lily, all of Shawnee; a brother, Ron Hadley and his wife, Betty, of Kauai, Hawaii; three sisters, Amy West of Oakhurst, California, Pam Perkins of Grove, Oklahoma, and Debbie Sanford and her husband, Kevin, of Fairland, Oklahoma. Also left to grieve their “Uncle Roger” are more than 30 nieces and nephews, their children, and their children’s children.
Larry Louis Jurney
Larry Louis Jurney, age 80, passed away just after midnight on Friday, August 9, 2024. Born on June 11, 1944, in Detroit, MI, to Basil Louis Jurney and Sue Brisendine Jurney, Larry grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cass Tech High School in 1962. His parents were both incredibly hard workers, and, despite neither parent having more than a high school diploma, they believed in the importance and value of education. Larry grew up to mirror his parents’ work ethic and values. His life emanated hard work and dedication, and he instilled his love of learning into the students he taught, the children he raised, and the family he led. With Larry’s fervent passion for curiosity, a legacy was born.
A good steward of the sacrifices his parents had made, Larry moved across the country to attend Lipscomb University (then David Lipscomb College) in the fall of 1962. A year later, in Greek class, he met the love of his life, Nancy Jannette Hardison. After a two-year romance, they were married in Florence, Alabama, on Nancy’s birthday, August 27, 1965.
While celebrating his new marriage, Larry also celebrated his graduation from Lipscomb with a BA in Communication and Religion. Always the learner, he went on to complete his Master of Arts from the University of Tennessee, and a decade later, in 1979, Larry was awarded his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Michigan in Radio, TV, and Communication.
Larry dedicated more than 50 years of his life to a calling in Christian education, which started when he was a Junior Associate of North Central Christian College in high school. After moving him and his wife back to his home state of Michigan, he began working at Rochester Christian University (then called Michigan Christian College) in a variety of capacities. He taught communication classes as well as others, directed drama productions, and served in administration. During his time at Rochester, the Jurneys became a family of four with the births of his two children: David Louis and Nancy-Susan. He cherished his role as father to the greatest joys of his life, his children.
In 1985, Larry’s passion for Christian education led him to Edmond, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Christian University. Larry poured his soul into his work and students. With heart and vision, Larry, called “Doc” by his students, transformed the communications department and redefined what it means to be an educator. He spent time mentoring and advocating for students in the classroom, in life, and on special travel programs. “‘It is more like he is spilling his heart out to you rather than just teaching,’” one student said about Dr. Jurney. “‘I love how his office is pretty much open to everyone and he is willing to help anyone who comes by,’” another said.
He took the haphazard beginnings of a radio station and turned it into the fully student produced and reputable KOCC. Larry had the pleasure of later sharing this project with his son, and they would both oversee its transition to K-LOVE. If you are now a fan of K-LOVE, remember, it was Dr. Jurney’s KOCC first. Throughout his term at OC, Larry served as Chair of Communication, Chair of OC Honors, Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts (for three years), registrar, and Vice President of Academic Affairs. OC recognized Larry with several honors, including the Faculty Leadership Award in 1998 and the Gaylord Distinguished Teacher Award in 2015. Larry was also awarded with several other accolades throughout his career. He was one of the founding members and a past president of the Oklahoma Broadcast Educators Association, which awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in 2002. Larry won two fellowships from the National Association of Programming Executives, allowing him to spend summers working for KMBC in Kansas City, MO. Through this opportunity, he received an Emmy for his work as the assistant producer for a documentary.
Although proud of everything he accomplished in his field, his family is even more proud of the ways Larry devoted himself to the church. After he graduated from Lipscomb, Larry served as a pulpit minister and remained serving the church in some capacity wherever he went. Larry served for the churches of Christ in New Hope, Alabama; Knoxville, Tennessee; Warren, Michigan; Birmingham, Michigan; and Troy, Michigan. Shortly after their move to Edmond, Larry and Nancy made Wilshire church of Christ their church home. Larry was installed as an elder in 1997 and served in that capacity until his passing. Despite sickness and poor health, Larry made it a priority to be at church. His selflessness and generosity was apparent to all. He was an example of a good and faithful servant.
Larry was joyous and loved to have fun, whether it be attending football games with his daughter, taking his family out to eat, or playing board games with his grandchildren. He loved to travel and always loved to drive. He was famous for driving hours just for some good eats. He was a true-blue Michigan Wolverines fan, but he also cheered on any other teams his children rooted for (Roll Tide! Fighting Irish! Boomer Sooner!). One of Larry’s favorite things to do was spend time with his grandchildren and family. He attended any sports events, plays, or recitals he could. He lit up with pride whenever his grandchildren tried something new and gave it their all. He loved to watch British television and PBS shows with Nancy. They had many adventures together over their nearly 59 years of marriage. He was endlessly proud of his family, and he made sure to let them know.
Larry touched countless lives and will be missed dearly. His legacy can be summed up in the words of son, David. “He has had a lot of influence on not just me but on students that he has come in contact with, school and other places he has been employed at and churches. Tough and wise is how I would describe my dad.”
Larry is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Susan; his daughter-in-law, Pamela Jurney; his two granddaughters, Tulle Kirsten and Talla Suzanne and chosen grandchildren Shaida and Shaan Kamal. He was preceded in death by his son.